U South Carolina Deploys Mobile App To Improve Campus Security

The University of South Carolina has deployed a mobile app in an effort to improve safety for students, faculty and staff at its Columbia campus.

The university has selected the Rave Guardian Campus Safety App, a tool that allows users to create a virtual safety network of friends, family, campus safety personnel and others. Once a safety network is set up, individuals within it can receive status updates, notifications at assigned check-in times and location information. If a timer expires or the user hits a panic button, campus safety personnel are notified.

Other features include:

The ability for users to opt in to using personal safety profiles, which include information such as residence address and health information to improve response;

The ability to send anonymous tips and multimedia messages; and

A safety connect button that provides responders with the current location and safety profile of the user.

"We at Carolina believe strongly that our students, faculty and staff should have safety at their fingertips," said Teena Gooding, lieutenant at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, in a prepared statement. "The Rave Guardian App is like having an emergency call box in your pocket. The peace of mind that the Rave Guardian offers is greatly appreciated by our Carolina community."

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at jbolkan@gmail.com.